Breslin Bound: 2025-26 Boys Regional Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2026
Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian Academy won its first District championship in boys basketball last week. Fruitport won its first since 1938.
Yale defeated Croswell-Lexington and Marshall defeated Battle Creek Pennfield in District Final matchups of teams that shared league titles. Ann Arbor Pioneer, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Colon and Detroit Cass Tech all finished second in their leagues this season but won their Districts as well, defeating their respective league champions to advance to this week’s Regionals.
Districts offer every team new life and second chances – and after a week full of those, 128 hopefuls are only three more wins from booking a trip to Michigan State.
Find everything you need to know this week about tickets, brackets and more as the tournament continues on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network, and see below for several of the intriguing matchups. Host sites are in bold.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Detroit Cass Tech 66, Detroit Martin Luther King 23 The Technicians (18-6) avenged a pair of regular-season losses to rival King (18-6) in a big way in this Division 1 District final after previously falling by seven points Jan. 21 and then 68-63 in the Detroit Public School League Tournament championship game on Feb. 15.
2. Rockford 83, Muskegon 70 The Rams (20-3) won this Division 1 District Final matchup for the second-straight season, ending Ottawa-Kent Conference Green champion Muskegon’s run at 20-3.
3. Hudsonville Unity Christian 60, Grand Rapids South Christian 39 This Division 2 District Final pitted the champs from the O-K Black and Gold, with Unity (21-3) adding to its 17-point win over the Sailors (20-4) from Dec. 12.
4. Colon 54, Mendon 47 The Magi (20-4) had finished second to Mendon in the Southern Central Athletic Association West after losing in overtime both times they faced the Hornets (22-2) during the regular season, but got past them in regulation in this Division 4 District Final.
5. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 44, Grand Rapids Christian 41 The Cougars (18-6) had fallen to Grand Rapids Christian (17-6) by nine points just 10 days earlier to lose the O-K White title to the Eagles, but rebounded to win a Division 2 District title for the third-straight season.
Regionals at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold:
DIVISION 1
Caledonia
Grand Rapids Northview (20-4) vs. Grandville (14-10)
Holland West Ottawa (13-11) vs. East Kentwood (21-2)
Grandville and West Ottawa deserve nods for reaching this week, the Bulldogs for avenging two regular-season losses to Hudsonville with a 49-37 District Final win and the Panthers as they added to a nice streak of four wins in five games by joining Grandville, East Kentwood and Rockford as one of four District champs from the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red. But the most anticipated matchup this week would see O-K Gold co-champion Northview take on the Falcons, who won that O-K Red that also will see all six teams finish with winning records this season.
Detroit Renaissance
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-5) vs. Detroit Cass Tech (18-6)
Farmington (12-12) vs. Warren Fitzgerald (18-6)
Brother Rice and Cass Tech have been in the statewide favorites conversation most of this decade, and although neither won its league this season it wouldn’t be shocking to see either playing at Breslin with an opportunity to win it all in two weeks. Only three of Rice’s losses were to in-state opponents – East Lansing (23-1), Rockford (20-3) and Detroit Catholic Central (17-6) – and Cass Tech’s six defeats came by a combined 21 points. Farmington has emerged after finishing fifth in the Oakland Activities Association Red and defeated Redford Thurston (20-3) to advance, and Fitzgerald has won 12 of its last 15 and claimed the Macomb Area Conference White title.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
Jackson (18-6) vs. Kalamazoo Central (20-2)
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (16-7) vs. East Lansing (23-1)
Reigning Division 1 champion East Lansing has been stopped only once this season, by Grand Rapids Northview on Feb. 7. The Trojans also defeated Loy Norrix 78-50 two weeks ago, and last year downed Kalamazoo Central by 35 points in the Regional Final. The Maroon Giants are among the state’s elite again this season and perhaps even a step up from a year ago, with losses to only Detroit Martin Luther King (18-6) and Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-5). The focus is on those two, but Jackson has won 11 of its last 12 games, and Loy Norrix has its most wins since 2011-12.
DIVISION 2
Fowlerville
Chelsea (18-5) vs. Marshall (19-4)
Lansing Sexton (22-2) vs. Michigan Center (20-3)
All of these teams are league champions, Sexton in the Capital Area Activities Conference White, Michigan Center in the Cascades Conference East, Chelsea sharing with two others in the Southeastern Conference White and Marshall as co-champion in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference. Marshall downed the other I8AC co-champ Battle Creek Pennfield to advance and also defeated Michigan Center 64-50 on Dec. 13. Sexton defeated Chelsea by two points last season in their Regional Final and has been even better this winter with its only losses to Division 1 East Lansing and Lansing Waverly. Michigan Center bounced back from two losses to end the regular season, and Chelsea has three defeats by one or two points and shared the SEC White title with Division 1 teams Ypsilanti Lincoln and Jackson.
Manistique
Kingsford (16-6) vs. Cheboygan (18-6)
Ludington (22-2) vs. Gladwin (23-1)
Gladwin won the Jack Pine Conference overall championship and is riding a 23-game winning streak since falling to Sanford Meridian (17-7) in its season opener. The Flying Gs take on another league champion in Ludington, which won the West Michigan Conference Lakes and has lost to only Division 1 Traverse City West (16-5) and North Muskegon (22-2). Those two will play one of the most intriguing Regional Semifinals in any division, but Kingsford or Cheboygan also will be formidable Thursday. The Flivvers made the Division 2 Semifinals a year ago, defeating Ludington by 40 in the Regional Final along the way. Cheboygan has doubled its win total this season from two years ago and got through close games with Grayling and Ogemaw Heights last week to advance.
Owosso
Flint Hamady (16-6) vs. Frankenmuth (23-1)
Freeland (21-3) vs. Portland (18-5)
This group is a complete repeat of last year’s Regional that saw Freeland advance to the Quarterfinals by defeating Portland. Heading into this year’s bracket, Frankenmuth finished first and Freeland second in the Tri-Valley Conference Red, and Freeland handed the Eagles their only loss, 54-48 on Feb. 13, after Frankenmuth had won their first meeting 47-43. Hamady won the Genesee Area Conference Blue and advanced to this week with a 17-point win over Flint Powers Catholic (16-7). Portland finished second in the CAAC White behind Lansing Sexton (22-2) and has won nine of its last 10 games.
DIVISION 3
Cass City
Reese (15-10) vs. International Academy of Flint (18-4)
Sandusky (16-7) vs. Harbor Beach (21-3)
Harbor Beach has totaled at least 20 wins the last three seasons and reached the Regional Final a year ago, but must defeat a familiar opponent for a third time to take that step again. The Pirates won the Big Thumb Conference Black and Sandusky finished third – and Sandusky also had a win over Reese just two weeks ago. The Rockets emerged by upsetting Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (19-5) in their District Final and now must take on another league champion in IAF, which won the Genesee Area Conference Red. The Phoenix bounced back from a pair of losses to end the regular season to earn their second District title over the last three years, and all of IAF’s defeats came to opponents with at least 18 wins.
Clinton
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (21-3) vs. Onsted (22-2)
Jonesville (18-6) vs. Ecorse (18-5)
Whiteford/Onsted should be another Regional Semifinal with notable statewide interest as both are league champions – in the Tri-County Conference and Lenawee County Athletic Association, respectively – with only a handful of losses between them. Whiteford actually shared the TCC title but has won 11 straight games and lost only twice to in-state opponents. Both Onsted defeats came to Division 2 teams. Ecorse also is a league champion, in the Charter School Conference Silver, and only three years removed from a run to the Division 3 Semifinals. Jonesville was the runner-up in the Cascades Conference West and reached this week with two five-point wins in its District including a triple-overtime victory over Hudson.
Kingsford
Ishpeming Westwood (23-1) vs. Menominee (20-4)
East Jordan (22-2) vs. Elk Rapids (20-3)
This is another field of four league champs, starting with Western Peninsula Athletic Conference winner Westwood, which made the Division 3 Semifinals a year ago and defeated Great Northern Conference champ Menominee 55-52 on Feb. 6. That was one of three Maroons defeats against teams still playing this week, and Menominee is only two years removed from winning a Regional title. East Jordan won the Ski Valley Conference and defeated Mancelona (21-3) for the third time this season to win their District Final. Elk Rapids won the Northern Shores Conference and has lost to only Division 1 and 2 opponents. The Elks got past Northwest Conference champion Maple City Glen Lake by three points last week to advance.
DIVISION 4
Detroit Douglass
Detroit Douglass (17-7) vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist (21-3)
Whitmore Lake (17-7) vs. Southfield Christian (19-5)
Inter-City Baptist defeated Douglass in a Regional Semifinal a year ago during its run to Breslin and has lost to only Division 1 and 2 teams this season that all have won at least 17 games. The host Hurricanes also have lost to only Division 1 and 2 teams, all with at least 14 wins – and Douglass nearly made the PSL championship game before falling to Cass Tech in overtime of their semifinal. Inter-City Baptist won the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference Blue and has two victories over both Whitmore Lake and Southfield Christian, which split their regular-season series with Whitmore Lake winning the first game and the Eagles taking the rematch.
Hillman
Rudyard (14-10) vs. Pickford (23-0)
Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian (16-7) vs. Hillman (21-2)
As noted above, Northern Michigan Christian is coming off its first District championship in this sport. The Eagles also have a win over Rudyard this season and a 23-pointer over Posen – which shared the North Star League Little Dipper championship with Hillman. That adds another level of intrigue to this bracket as Hillman and Posen split and Hillman lost their second meeting – although the Tigers already avenged their other loss, to Rogers City, twice including last week. Pickford has 27 and 29-point wins over Rudyard this season and is pursuing a second-straight Regional title after missing a trip to Breslin last season with a two-point Quarterfinal loss. Rudyard has won 10 of its last 13 games and in its District Final avenged a 20-point loss to Brimley from 10 days earlier with a two-point win.
Merrill
Fowler (22-2) vs. Baldwin (20-4)
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (22-1) vs. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (16-7)
This power-packed Regional starts with Tri-unity, the reigning Division 4 champion with its only loss this season to Division 2 Fruitport (21-3) on Dec. 20. The Defenders must first take on a Nouvel team that finished second in the TVC Blue and has won eight of its last nine games including 55-50 over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-5) in their District Final. And whichever team comes out of Fowler/Baldwin will provide a major challenge as well. The Eagles also ran into Tri-unity last year – in the Division 4 championship game, won by the Defenders 49-32 – and Fowler’s only losses this winter were to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (22-2). Baldwin will do its best to prevent that rematch and is plenty capable after avenging an earlier defeat to clinch the outright West Michigan D League title while riding a run of nine wins over its last 10 games.
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PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Cass Tech’s Amari Wash (11) makes a move toward the lane during his team’s Division 1 District Final win over Detroit Martin Luther King on Friday. (Middle) Marquette's Ford Richardson gets up a shot while surrounded by Traverse City West's Ashton Royle (15), Jacob Banish (1), Blake LaFaive (5), and Carter Grubb (3) during the Sentinels’ 69-52 Division 1 District Final win. (Below) Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Ortonville Brandon face off in a Division 2 District opener. (Cass Tech/King photo by Olivia B. Photography. Marquette/TC West photo by Cara Kamps. Notre Dame Prep/Ortonville Brandon photo by Terry Lyons.)
Breslin Bound: Boys Report Week 7
January 22, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Last week was unkind to many who had enjoyed perfect runs through most of the first half of this boys basketball season.
We started last Monday with 34 unbeaten teams – and ended with only 22, as five of 10 in Class D and three of seven in Class A were among those to suffer first defeats.
Of course, the best teams rarely make it through an entire season unscathed – and often that’s a good thing. Five of eight teams on this week’s “Watch List” below have lost at least once and a couple have three defeats – but are still making major impressions as we roll along toward March.
Breslin Bound is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. To offer corrections or fill in scores we’re missing, email me at [email protected].
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Detroit Renaissance 60, Detroit Cass Tech 57 – More on Renaissance’s surge below, but this one announced it as Cass Tech had been in the talk as the best in Class A.
2. Kalamazoo Central 55, Mattawan 47 – The Maroon Giants are quietly off to another strong first half, sitting alone in first in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East after handing Mattawan its first loss of the season.
3. Maple City Glen Lake 54, Frankfort 45 – The Lakers had quite a week, handing Frankfort its first loss to move into a three-way tie atop the Northwest Conference before defeating Lake Michigan Conference leader Traverse City St. Francis two days later.
4. Rochester 71, Berkley 55 – Rochester moved into first place alone in the Oakland Activities Association Blue while handing Berkley its first loss overall.
5. Buckley 62, Manton 60 – These teams went a combined 47-6 last season in both making it to the Breslin Center; they are a combined 13-6 with high aspirations again this winter.
Watch List
With an eye toward March, here are two teams in each class making sparks:
CLASS A
Detroit Renaissance (8-3) – The Phoenix finished 6-14 only a season ago, but the rise has been sharp and impressive over the last two months. Right after downing Cass Tech last week, Renaissance also defeated Class B contender Detroit Henry Ford – which beat the Phoenix by three Dec. 19. The three loses this season are by a combined nine points; Renaissance fell early by four to Flint Carman-Ainsworth and then by a basket to Ann Arbor Huron in overtime (those two are 15-3 combined).
Okemos (7-3) – Last week’s 60-55 win over East Lansing requires context; Trojans all-stater Brandon Johns was unable to play, reportedly resting a lingering knee injury. Regardless, the victory pushed the Chiefs into a first-place tie with Grand Ledge in the Capital Area Activities Conference Blue after Okemos finished fourth and 12-9 overall last season. The only losses this winter were to the Comets, DeWitt and Troy Athens (24-6 combined) in December; the Chiefs are 4-0 in 2018.
CLASS B
Coloma (9-0) – A 54-49 overtime win over nonleague foe Kalamazoo Hackett on Saturday didn’t enhance Coloma’s standing atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore, but did further the Comets’ standing as a team to watch statewide (Hackett fell to 9-2). Coloma improved from five wins two seasons ago to 13 and second in the Lakeshore last winter, and it has a one-game lead on Fennville heading into their second meeting this season Friday. The Comets won the first 71-64 on Dec. 8.
Fremont (7-2) – After two seasons winning only six games apiece, Fremont improved to 13-8 last winter and has continued to climb. The Packers have won five straight to rise to first place in the Central State Activities Association Gold despite suffering a loss to third-place Reed City during a 2-2 start. They are perfect this month and started the run with a 54-49 win over second-place Big Rapids.
CLASS C
Capac (9-0) – The Chiefs have nearly guaranteed their first winning season since 2010-11, and are set up to play for more. Coming off an 8-13 finish a year ago, Capac finds itself tied for first in the Blue Water Area Conference with Richmond, and they’ll meet for the first time next week. The Chiefs handed former co-leader Almont its first league loss Friday, 41-35, and have won six games by double digits.
Ottawa Lake Whiteford (7-2) – The Bobcats’ Division 8 championship football success seems to be following into the winter, as they moved into first place alone in the Tri-County Conference with a 63-42 win over Sand Creek on Thursday. Next up is second-place Petersburg-Summerfield, and a victory would be coach John Rice’s 500th. Whiteford’s only losses this winter are to Class A Temperance Bedford and also much larger Toledo Waite.
CLASS D
Ashley (9-1) – The Bears have run off nine straight victories to move into first place in the Mid-State Activities Conference with a matchup against second-place Carson City-Crystal coming up this week. Ashley won nine games total a year ago – and had 19 victories over the last five seasons combined entering this winter. The lone loss was by only three to Portland St. Patrick in its opener.
Bellevue (8-0) – Last season’s 23-2 run – an improvement of five wins from the solid season before – might have been just another step as the Broncos are surging again. The most impressive win may have come Thursday, 45-39 over Camden-Frontier which sent the Redskins to 9-3. The Broncos also beat Class C Carson City-Crystal and Lakeview to win the Central Montcalm Holiday Hoops Tournament, and have a two-win lead in the Southern Central Athletic Association West.
Can't-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these games coming up:
Tuesday – Grand Rapids Christian (6-2) at East Grand Rapids (9-1) – These two sit together at the top of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold after Christian was first and EGR only fifth last season.
Tuesday – Warren DeLaSalle (7-2) at Detroit U-D Jesuit (8-2) – This will be the first of two meetings (at least) between the current co-leaders of the Detroit Catholic League Central.
Tuesday – Grandville Calvin Christian (7-1) at Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (10-2) – Both should be in the Class C statewide mix again after Covenant was runner-up last season and Calvin was runner-up in 2016.
Tuesday – Coloma (9-0) at Kalamazoo Christian (9-0) – The leaders of the SAC Lakeshore and Valley, respectively, have made similar big moves in their divisions with a similar opportunity to gain a little more statewide acclaim.
Thursday – West Bloomfield (5-4) at Clarkston (10-1) – The overall records don’t look close, but West Bloomfield trails the Wolves by just a win in the OAA Red after both made the Class A semifinals last season (and Clarkston won it all).
PHOTO: Ottawa Lake Whiteford coach John Rice provides some pointers for his 7-2 Bobcats. (Photo by Cari Hayes.)